I had the pleasure of having our neighbor over for craft time today and wanted to show how the same craft can be done differently for a toddler, a 4.5 year old and one done by an adult. So often we think toddlers can’t do the same things as older siblings, or vice versa but easy little add ons or subtractions make all the difference. This pumpkin printing project is perfect for fall.
Pumpkin Printing for Toddlers
- Gather your materials. I totally forgot to take a picture! (I am beyond sleep deprived. My son is getting 2-year molars and demanding mommy, and ONLY mommy multiple times a night!) phew, I feel better. Okay back to the materials, a plate, a mini pumpkin, some cool fall colored paint, construction paper, and markers.
- Cut your mini pumpkin in half. Clean out or have your child help if they are old enough clean out the seeds.
- Spread a mixture of paint on a plate.
- Use the pumpkin as a stamp and press onto the paper. Our guest had a great time making prints and carefully pressing the pumpkin down.
- My toddler had a blast using the pumpkin more like a brush and pressing it all around the paper.
- After you finish printing, add stems and leaves to the pumpkins with markers. My toddler skipped this step and his masterpiece looked like this
but my neighbor added a few to his prints! 
Hopefully, this helps illustrate pumpkin printing. Even if the outcome is a little varied, all ages can participate in the same activity and have fun doing it!
teachingtinytots says
we do this every year goards are also fun!
Heather - CROQZine.com says
Fun! I like to see the projects you do with your son because I also have a 2 year-old. Also, I feel your pain re: the sleep-deprivation thing!!
Marcia says
LOVE IT! Plus, the fun of scraping all the seeds and gunk out 🙂
This will be on our plan.
CAB says
We tried out the marble/ball painting recently – and blogged about it! We linked to your site and would be glad if you wanted to stop by sometime!
http://oldspillhouse.blogspot.com/2008/09/marble-or-in-our-case-ball-painting.html
http://oldspillhouse.blogspot.com
CAB
Jill says
What a great idea!
Anonymous says
Thanks, for all your great ideas. I have been using your crats ideas with my 20 month old child, and she is having a blast.
Wendy D
Tami says
Very cute pumpkin prints! I love them. 🙂
Anonymous says
We just tried this yesterday and had a blast! Thanks for all the great ideas! I love your site!
sandy says
You have so many wonderful ideas and I thank you so much for sharing them! I have an award for you on my blog:)
http://just4funwithsandy.blogspot.com/2008/11/awarded-again.html
scratch card printing says
These ideas are like by kids, thanks for sharing.
SJ says
I see that this post is pretty old but the best thing about it (aside from the cute craft which I’m totally doing) was the part where you say that you have a toddler waking multiple times a night because of teething and wanting mommy. I’m sooo there right now and just reading that made me feel better!
admin says
Let me make you feel even better… now I have the 2nd kiddo who is repeating what her brother did 🙂 Glad that bit helped you feel better. Wanting mama in the night is not a bad thing in my book, even if sometimes it makes me feel a little like a zombie. They are only little for a little while.
Jeny Taylor says
Wow! I have found a treasure! I am not a crafty person but I have young children and would like to do some things like this with them. All of these are great! Your whole web page! Simple, for mom. Yet very fun for kids! This is awesome! Thank you so much!!